Running Bear's September 2026 Coffee Shop

[troyphoto]

Well, howdy there Star Trekkers

It's Troy again
Yes, it's Star Trek day

I had to put one of my snarky characters aboard the enterprise. He'd definitely be telling Jim where to stick that phaser.

Not much going on today. I did sit at the writing desk long enough to get 700 words worded before my hip grumped enough to put me back on the couch.

Yesterday, I had a surprise. I add the flavor drops from the (store brand) MIO flavor bottles. Little squeeze bottles wth the one-way valve in the nozzle. Like the ketchup bottles now have. Opened a new Berry-Pomogranate flavor bottle and did a squirt.

There was no one-way valve.

To say I got a lot of flavor was and understatement.

Wife suggested I dump it from my glass into a pitcher and add more water. Instead of my normal 24 oz cup, I had a haf-gallon of flavored water. Fortunately, I didn't toss the old empty bottle, and was able to pull the cap off and switch it with the one missing the valve.

 

[traiNscale]

What part of the USA?
What rail line?

Rio Grande (at least my engines are from them. HOn3.
I already did a Tunnelportal that is heavy inspired by the Mud Tunnel.Youl find all the infos in my building thread, also linked in my signature

Cheers
marco

 

[Kusojiji]

one-way valve

I really don't like those things anyway. Japanese ketchup is in these super soft plastic containers that just squish easily and puts too much ketchup out. So I bought a bottle of Heinz with that valve and I squeeze a little bit, nothing. Squeeze more, nothing, Add a little bit more pressure and boom! Not only do I get too much, but some gets on the floor, table, whereever. Not buying that anymore.

 

[bnsf971]

https://sounddino.com/index.php?r=load&mp3&id=8185&l=2&sdino_limit=1&product_kind=sound&sw=1920&sh=1080&vw=1920&vh=995&dpr=1

 

[Kusojiji]

I remember that sound! I wish I remembered my buddy's name that I am going to have lunch with tomorrow...

 

[troyphoto]

If you will all recall, @Kusojiji asked who "Sugar Bear" was from the Elton John song:

I heard that while running errands this morning, so I asked Claude

Here's what my AI assistant said:

"Sugar Bear" is Long John Baldry — that's the story behind Elton John's "Someone Saved My Life Tonight." (Milton Johns doesn't seem to fit in this — that's actually the name of a British character actor, unrelated to the song.)

The backstory: in 1968, a 21-year-old Elton (still going by Reg Dwight then) was engaged to a woman named Linda Woodrow and miserable about it — closeted, feeling trapped, and financially strained by the relationship. He made a half-hearted suicide attempt, sticking his head in a gas oven with all the windows open and a pillow underneath him. Baldry, a friend and fellow musician he'd played with in the band Bluesology, talked him out of going through with the marriage, essentially telling him it would wreck both his happiness and his shot at a music career.

Years later, when Elton and Bernie Taupin wrote the autobiographical album Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy, Taupin immortalized that moment — and Baldry — in the song, using "Sugar Bear" as his nickname in the lyrics, even though that apparently wasn't what people actually called him. Baldry himself later said he remembered giving the advice but was never quite sure what the song was about.

 

[RhB Michael]

77°F/65°F this morning. Not too soupy yet.

Good Tuesday morning. I cut the back yard yesterday because it was so nice. I was just out back with Willow and a cup of coffee and had no plans to cut grass. I barely broke a sweat it was so dry yesterday. Dewpoint was in the upper 50°s. Not so today. Dewpoint is increasing until Thursday before falling again.

Picking up scripts later, and eating bar-b-q I made yesterday on the grill. It turned out great.

Have a great week.

Servus!

 

[bnsf971]

Well, the first part of my delayed shipment has arrived, and for some reason, it looks like an elephant sat on it. I’ll wait until the other delayed items show up later, and decide which things I won’t be able to use.
I’m not sure if anybody was killed in that crash or not.

 

[santafewillie]

Good Morning All. Clear and 79° here this morning. High today of just 102°, a repeat of yesterday; that's a slight relief from the three previous days at 107°. It may cool just slightly in the next few days.

Lumberjacks were a no-show yesterday; I guess that they took me seriously when I told them that they didn't need to be working at my place on Labor Day. Otherwise the day was uneventful. Today might be about the same.

At least for me, forum is running better today than yesterday. Still no where near expectations though.

I hate 2FA or MFA. I'll stop here before I write an essay.

Out in the train shed yesterday, I ballasted the last switch (of three) in the current project area. Did a little more ground cover but mostly ran trains.

Michael -

It's tough to think of her being 75. Where have the decades gone? 3/4 of a century old.

Yeah! She's older than me!
Alan -

I've moved on to sit down restaurants. It's only a few bucks more now and you get a server who keeps your glass full and can send it back if they goof. Fast Food is no longer fast, and barely food.

I've pretty much been a sit-down type diner for most of the last 20 years...except the occasional Whataburger. While no eatery food is as healthy as fresh food made at home, at least it's healthier than fast food.
Kevin - I have read that the Embassy Suites in Denton has replaced, or will replace the shuttered Houlihan's with something called Brickstones Kitchen and Bar. Since the highway construction out front can be daunting at times, we have not checked it out yet. Did you see anything new there???

Today is the birth date of the late Ron McKernan, original organist for the Grateful Dead; born in 1945. Unlike other members of the band, he didn't do drugs, but liked whiskey. His downfall, as he died of cirrhosis of the liver in 1973! Brian Cole, bassist and singer with The Association was born on this day in 1942. He died from a heroin OD in 1972. The late Benjamin Orr, bassist/vocalist for The Cars was born on this day in 1947.

Everyone have a terrific Tuesday.

 

[troyphoto]

Well, the first part of my delayed shipment has arrived, and for some reason, it looks like an elephant sat on it. I’ll wait until the other delayed items show up later, and decide which things I won’t be able to use.
I’m not sure if anybody was killed in that crash or not.

According the web AI:

Five people were killed in the Amazon Air crash at Miami International Airport. The victims were passengers in two vehicles on the ground—a cleaning crew van and an SUV—that were struck by the Boeing 767 after it overran the runway on Sunday, September 6, 2026. Additionally, five other people were injured, with three in critical condition.

 

[RhB Michael]

Ironically, they stopped right at the Amazon DC parking lot. Another couple of hundred feet and they could have unloaded the aircraft right at the bay doors.

 

[Bruette]

for some reason, it looks like an elephant sat on it.

If it was from Amazon, it could have been a compact car driver with 40 bags of groceries to deliver.

 

[Espeefan]

Morning All! 73 in the Brew City this AM, going to 80. A spot of rain later maybe...we'll see! Taking the daughter home from her long weekend visit. She says she misses the cats. I can relate. It'll be nice to have the place to ourselves again though. I like the quiet. More bench time today, as I have passenger car work to do. Enjoy your day!

 

[troyphoto]

well, howdy there internet peeps

It's Troy again.

I trekked myself. Yes, I'd be like Data and have a cat.

Probably a snarky cat.

Speaking of snarky cats, I've got promo for my main series of cozy mystery books today. Book 1 free (it always is) and books 2&3 down to 99¢.

I normally see a much better download than what I'm getting right now. Hmmmm....

I've been experimenting with covers on this series, trying to attract some Urban Fantasy readers. But, I don't think I'm nailing the covers for either genre.

I'll wait to see what the numbers are tomorrow, but I'm guessing they'll be lower than normal, and I'll be switching back to the older covers.

In other news, I cancelled my attendance at the author conference in Tampa Florida. Sorry Terry! And to my surprise, I got an email that they were refunding my money, less the credit card processing fees! It wasn't like that two years ago when I cancelled for the same reason.

Now I just need to cancel my flights.

 

[Bruette]

Two-step verification can be a hassle. I try to avoid it whenever possible, but with some sites like Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE), there's just no way around it.

Lord, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

 

[westtexjohn]

howdi all

need your feedback here. iam (talking about in my build thread but also post here)
iam thinking of adding a wall on my diorama. but iam not shure if one of the two options would fit late 50ies in the USA at all.
So maybe you could help me here a bit:

Version A:
View attachment 273406

Version B:
View attachment 273405

Do you think one of those walls would fit?
If so, tell me! Thank you.

Cheers
marco

I prefer Version A.

John

 

[Marlin39]

They've unplugged Nicki from all the tubes and monitors. They're doing blood draws every 4 hours now instead of every 2. If her sodium level stays stable they are going to move her out of the ICU tonight. She may actually be able to come home tomorrow, but realistically Thursday.

The orthopedic surgery is healing well. She's to use the bathroom on her own with a walker. There's very little bruising.

I don't spend more than a couple of hours a day at the hospital. She's been getting very little sleep with all the blood draws and when she starts to nod off I leave.

House has seemed eerily empty and quiet without her. Sleeping and my daily routine are messed up. Those of you that have been married 40+ years like us know what I'm talking about. Even the dog keeps checking her side of the bed to see if she magically appears.

 

[kbkchooch]

They've unplugged Nicki from all the tubes and monitors. They're doing blood draws every 4 hours now instead of every 2. If her sodium level stays stable they are going to move her out of the ICU tonight. She may actually be able to come home tomorrow, but realistically Thursday.

The orthopedic surgery is healing well. She's to use the bathroom on her own with a walker. There's very little bruising.

I don't spend more than a couple of hours a day at the hospital. She's been getting very little sleep with all the blood draws and when she starts to nod off I leave.

House has seemed eerily empty and quiet without her. Sleeping and my daily routine are messed up. Those of you that have been married 40+ years like us know what I'm talking about. Even the dog keeps checking her side of the bed to see if she magically appears.

Glad to hear she is improving, tell he to keep it up!!

 

[Kusojiji]

"Sugar Bear" is Long John Baldry

Thanks! Very interesting.

 

[Kusojiji]

compact car driver

For some reason, some of my deliveries have been made by Yamato Takkyubin, a national delivery service, vice the uber-esque delivery dudes. Might be because of the bad reviews I gave to some of them?